davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
, 1887-11-02
TIE WRITING

6Ill1O0A" 0ANOhANS'O ~
long been known, it has not, so far
as we are aware, proved a CONNER
cial success, owing to the circum-
stance that The instruments used in
conducting it are expensive, the sys-
tenn slow, and the synchronism unre-
liable. In this system the messages
are first written with insulating ink
on timed paper and fed into instru-
ments whereby they are transmitted.
At the other end they are received
on chemically prepared paper, but
the messages soon fade. A very
pronounced improvement upon this
system was made by Mr.. E. A.
Cowper, C.E., soma few years since
in his writing telegraph. Here the
movement OF "a pen Mt the sending
station introduced varying resistan-
ces into two electric circuits connec-
ted with the receiving station. The
varying currents acted upon two
electro magnets at the latter station,
and caused them to impart move-
ments in TWO directions at an angle
to each other to a receiving pen,
which was made TO reproduce the
writing formed by the sending pen.
Mr. Cowper, however, was not alone
in his invention Of the writing tele-
grnph, for, as no unfrequently hap
peps, another diligent worker was
busy in the same direction and at
the same time. This was Mr.. !.
Hart Robertson, an American cleo
%trician, who, without being aware of
Mr.. Cowrer's invention, produced an
instrument upon the same plan. He
found, however, that it involved
heavy expense in operating, and,
pushing his research further, he in
course of time produced an improved
instrument. This is the writing tele-
graph which we recently saw in
successful operation IN the American
Exhibition. The principle involved
consists in changing the strength of
the electric currents by the move
mentS' of the pen when writing, va
iyHIS LiO pICSSU'V VIZ g SCA lOo "a
carbon discs included in the circuits.
BY this means simplicity, greater
speed and the utmost accuracy in
reproduction are secured. Both Mr..
Cowper's and Mr.. Robertson's
inventions have become the property
of the Writing Telegraph Company
of New York, which is represented
in this country by Mr.. j.. Morgan
Richards, of 46, Holbornviaduct,
London.
In this apparatus the transmitter
consists of two series of carbon discs
placed at right angles to each other
il a. hard rubber receptacle. Each
pile Of discs has a screw follower for
adjusting the normal pressure Of the
discs on each other. a rod carrying
ihe pen or stylus is pivoted at its
lower end, and has pressure points
opposite the piles of discs. The op-
orator manipuiates the stylus or pen
ms in writing, although he cnn only
move the point Of stylus over a small
circumscribed area. AS the stylus
describes the various letters fhe.pres-
sure points are pressed against the
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-18

is adequate to the purpose. and the conforma-
ton of the country favorable to accommodating
and distributing it. The science of irriga-
ton is in it's infancy. Notwithstanding the
great developments that have been made in
this direction in recent years there is little
doubt that far greater ones will be made in
the near future. There are large sections of
country in the West and Southwest of little
or no value for farming purposes at present
which can be made immensely productive and
valuable BY irrigation. iEhat this can be done
is no longer matter of conjecture; it has
been done in many localities with astonishing
results. Irrigation will figure as of the
most important factors in the agricultural de-
velopment of those portions of the trans
Mississippi States and Territories which are
not favored with sufficient moisture by nature.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-18

No MAN is good and great that he is free
from the commission of error; even one who
is at once millionaire and a pillar in the
church is not necessarily infallible in judg-
ment or faultless in action. So far as the
public judge from the facts that have
been made known, an injustice was done to
the eldest daughter of the late w. c. DePauw
in division of the estate which gives her
much smaller portion than to other members
of the family for the reason that she married
a poor man. 1t may indicate bad taste on the
part of young woman who has been raised
in luxury to choose for husband man with
as little money as her father once had, but
this is matter of opinion. AT all events,
such procedure does not, in the view of most
people, forfeit the daughters right to such
benefit as it is in fathers power to bestow
If, on investigation, it should prove that
through undue influence on the testator or
through other means. injustice had been
done as claimed in the case referred to a more
equal distribution of the property will meet
with general approval, even though the inter
ests of other benefciaries public and private
are interfered with thereby.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-18

THOSE Indiana statesmen who, in times
past, have talked themselves hoarse in their
eloquent efforts to prove the sacredness of the
federal Constitution, now have an opportunity
to show their love and veneration for that
noble instrument by going to it's centennial
celebration at their own expense. The indi-
cations are, however, that the delegation of
that class of citizens will be small, and that
The honors will be paid by men who did not
regard the document as so perfect that it could
not be bettered by amendment.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-18
KEEPING A SECRET,

The Coy gang have hard time in keeping
full and further details of their criminal pro-
ceedings from getting out. It is always so
with guilty secrets. Murder will out, says
the adage. Guilty secrets work night and
day like water fltering through levee and
liable to break out at the most unex-
pected times and places 1t is well known
among criminals that the greater number of
persons who are in possession of a secret the
greater the danger of disclosure. The Coy
gang are realizing this. There are so many
in their secret that the bosses and leaders are
kept constantly on the alert to prevent this
or that one from squealing. They are kept
busy battening down the hatchways to keep the
flames from breaking out. The public re-
members how they worked with one of the
gang last winter and got him place at the
Senate partly as a reward for his services and
partly to keep him still In the trial it came
out that when there was talk of removing
this fellow Sim Coy hurried to influential
Senators and tremblingly informed them that
it would never do-that he must be
kept where he to keep him
still. Then the danger point shifted and
they had to work with Sammy Perkins. They
wrestled with him for weeks and weeks He
dangerous person and hard to control.
They held him up for awhile, and took turns
about holding their hands over his mouth or
a.club over his head. But he finally broke
down, broke loose and broke out. His revela-
tons caused a temporary panic among the
gang, and it looked for little while as if
more would squeal or all take to the woods.
But under the able generalship of Boss Coy
they rallied and reformed their lines. His
experience in dealing with crimes and Grim
inals stood them in good stead. With the aid
of the Democrats on the jury they pulled
through and the crisis temporarily
bridged over. But now it is again. Smoke
is seen issuing from a new crevice, and the
gang runs to fight the fire in a new quarter.
Their guilty secret is in danger of breaking
out This time it is a discharged employee of
the county clerks Office Sullivan didn't
know the man knew so much, and, forgetting
that he himself lived volcano discharged
TIE lelIoW. buI the ulschargeu enPioye nap
pened to be of the numerous custodians
of the fatal secret, of portions of it.
He was loaded, but Sullivan didn't know it.
The man quietly moved into position, brought
his batteries to bear on the enemy and then
dictated terms His terms were accepted
and he was re-appointed. Thus this new
hole was plugged up, and the crisis again post
poned. But it is very wearing on the gang to
points. They never know from one day to
another where their secret is going to break
mt
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-18

THE welcome rain will revive not only the
vegetation, but the dropping spirits of the
farmers as we'll AT the worst, however, they
have only feared a loss of profit on their crops
on account of the drought, and not actual suf-
fering or restitution. Even to those who
made the loudest laments and most alarming
predictions the assurances from various agri-
cultural authorities that no famine is likely to
result from the lack of rain must have a
humorous sound. Famines do not occur in
this land of plenty.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-18
General Sheridan as Candidate.

Boston Herald (Mug.)
While General Sheridan would, undoubtedly,
have certain elements of strength as Republic.
an presidential candidate, should say that
his chances of receiving nomination very
slight. except on the improbable theory that
the managers of the party believe that the
organization has fallen into such q desperate
state that 1t must select the most available
candidate, without regard 20 their own personal
advantages. For. with Gen. Sheridan Presi
dent, the policy OF the administration would be.
in NUM- Der of particulars, uncertain one.
The war issues having been settled, there would
be no distinct benefit in having at the head of
the government a man whose views variety
of questions that would mp might or
might not be accord with those of the
jority of the party There is doubt that
enthusiastic campaign might be carried with
General Sheridan as the Republican standard
bearer and that his descent and religion would
induce a large number to vote for him who
otherwise would their ballots for the
Democratic nominee but, we said above, the
F publican managers are not likely to consider
their desperate to make them sub
ordinate other considerations to that of avail
ability.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-18

INSURANCE statistics compiled in New
York show that the total losses by fire in the
United States during the year 1887 thus far
have been SIC, 928, 100 The monthly rate of
losses has been considerably larger than in
any previous year. The aggregate is startling.
A steady destruction of property by fire at the
rate of over SO. 00O.0 900 month is appalling
to contemplate, and the problem of curtailing
this great drain on the resources of the people
is one that may well engage the attention of
our brightest minds. OF course, a large pro-
portion of this loss is covered by Insurance.
but the property destroyed is gone all the same.
Insurance merely distributes, or equalizes the
loss. 1t is estimated that the average amount of
insurance is 80 to go per cent. of the property
destroyed, or a little more than half. The
statistics show that of all known causes of
fires incendiarism heads the list. During the
year 1886 there were 15 222 fres the origin
OF ,9l3 is unknown, and the origin of 5,611
If known, was not reported; of the 1908
remaining fires 1859, or &c per cent. of those
whose origin is known, was attributed to in
cendiarism. The other 5, 739 were attribut-
able to ffty-eight different known causes
Next to incendiarism the defective aue is the
most prolific cause Of fires, and here we have
one of the fatal results of careless building
During last year ,O04 fires are known to have
resulted from this cause of which Indiana
contributed 90. Poor mechanics and careless
building cost the country an enormous sum.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-18

ABOUT PEOPLE AND THINGS.

GENERAL LEW WALLACE says the Turks do not
i'll treat Christians nowadays.
SON of the actress Rachel. N. Felix. lieuten-
ant in the French army, died recently in the in
terror of Africa. He distin guished himself by
his bravery in the war of 1870
FRED DOUGLASS says that Theodore Tilton is
living in clover in Paris, playing chess, growing
fat and doing a little literary work He does
not contemplate returning to America.
ELDER EVANS. of the Shaker community, at
New Lebanon, Columbia county, New York has
lust celebrated his eighty fifth birthday. For
ffty-fve years he has abstained from eating fish
and flesh.
THE book stores in Iowa selling large
numbers of a work entitled ''Reveries of
Bachelor" The volume contains flask be-
tween the covers, the sort OF reading which
makes full man.
CAPT. GEORGE BEAUMONT, of the Royal Brit
ish navy. has captured the heart of Miss Mary
Perkins. of Boston, whose brother was recently
married to Senator Evarts's daughter. The date
of their marriage is set for 1.-The early fall"
Mrs. LANGTRY's coachman is one of the sights
at Long Branch. He is only little more shan
four feet tall and weighs about ITO pounds
What little hair he has is red and his face is
covered with freckles. AS a foil for his hand
some mistress he is an unqualified success.
SECRETARY LAMAR some months ago had
letter from an old lady in Ireland, asking if he
where
Secretary set an inquiry foot and found the
son had killed man and been hanged for it in
one of the Territories The Secretary hardly
knows how to write to the old mother.
DR.. NoRvIN GREEN. president of the Western
Union Telegraph Company, thinks that great
many men break down from overwork. He be-
lieves In evening amusements that take the
mind away from the shop after work is done.
He seldom works at night, and tries never to do
SO.
A PRIVATE letter say that when Henry NJ.
Stanley PASSED the Yambunga rapids he was in
territory that no white man had ever visited. The
ROYAL Geographical Society contributed So, 900
toward the expenses of the expedition in con-
sideration of the geographical knowledge which
Stanley would doubtless be able to make on his
visit to this unknown region.
A QUEER museum the Queens jubilee presents
form IN the throne-room at Windsor; carriage
rug from the women of Heligoland; an olive
wood cross from the British residents OF
Jerusalem; boots. shoes and slippers from the
people of Stafford felt hats, Turkish bath-towes,
twine rope. collars and cuffs, calicoes, tobacco,
marmalade, aud an almost infinite variety Of he
products of the kingdom.
THERE is a novel bet in existence between two
Atlanta men. 1t grows out Of the old idea that
If rain falls on the first dog day it will rain on
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-18
had most opportunity come to him few day.


before:
II seemed to wake in the roar of big city on
the corner of two streets looking much like the
corner of Fulton aud Nassau streets. and l saw
n policeman. / asked him what town 1t was, for
things didn't look natural New York. he said.
And, by questioning the policeman. found thai
1t was Aug. Ii, 1887 at S45 A. NJ. l knew ii
was morning. because all the people were going
to work-nicely dressed. happy-lookiug people
and the stores were just opening at that
hour And then l looked for Jacob Snarps
cars, and saw cars rolling along run by cleo
triclty. and nobody paid any fares. The police
man said the road belonged to the people and
was free Elevated roads had gone but tksre
were UNDERGROUND roads. run by electricity. IL,
and nobody paid any fares. st. Pauls Church
had become great free library. but there were
few law books there. In fact, the policeman
said there were very few lawyers in town. Pub
lie buildings were magnificent; private dwellings
modest. but comfortable. There were no ten
ements. Poverty, was told, had gone out of
the world years ago. The river was spanned
with many bridges, and there were lots of tun-
nels, but ferrv-boats. New York, Jersey
City. Brooklyn, even Hoboken were all one
with one Mayor and ten millions of people, who
worked from A. NJ. till P. NJ, with an hour
for lunch.
open, but any body could walk in without paying
a cent. 1 looked for saloons. bnt couldn't find
any. There were some grand gardens where
families sat and listened to music. and drank
whatever they wanted But the saloons died
out because when the tax taken off liquors
made them so dirt cheap that no one wanted
them. There was no inducement to treat"
These not the words of the reformer,
of the teacher, nor of the philosopher They
are the words OF the babbline fool We presume
that Rev. Pentecost Is quite incapable of per-
ceiving that his New York of 1887 must be city
in which two-thirds of the people would be
robbed every day OF their lives provide the
other third with electric railroads and great
theaters and concert gardens" To argue seri-
ously with q person capable Of having. much
more of relating. such>a dream would be waste
of time.
But tho quotation we have given serves to
show upon what sort Of meat United Labor
is at present feeding. 1t is worth while to
make the examination. too. since the
political apostles of labor and those who
hope TO reap some personal and party
profit from the work are making estimates
of the labor vote at the coming election that
are plainly extravagant. 1t takes brains to lead
even ignorant voters to the polls. and niggard
nature seems to have denied that qualification to
the men who are managing the political interests
of the worklngmen.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-18

The postoffice at present is not serving the
public we'll And we do not hesitate to say that
if the express companies lost and delayed as
letters there would DE popular outburst Of in
dignation. The situation does not Improve.
Mails more irregular than they were
six months ago. and more letters are lost, go
astray. The service has deteriorated Just in
proportion to the appointment of new men to
take the place Of those who had experience and
skill. The changes have been gradual, and the
deterioration has bean gradual. but it has been
in a steady ratio We hoped at first that the
new employees would improve, but tho service
grows worse, and the conclusion is forced upor
us that the new appointments not m ade for
fitness, but as rewards for partisan service.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-18

THE Democrats in the Council could hardly
have put upon the Knights of Labor a more
deliberate insult than was done d disposing
of the Knights petition relative to the ordi-
nance requiring street-car conductors. The
entire community is interested in the passage
of this ordinance. but owing to the recent
strike and circumstances growing out of it
the knights of Labor have a special interest
in It. Their petition asked for the imme-
date passage of the ordinance. The subject
matter of the petition was important and the
petition itself represented large number of
voters. 1t should at least have been read and
discussed. Instead of that, after being passed
from one Democratic hand to another, it was
finally introduced with request not that it
be read but that it be referred to the commit
tee on street railroads. This is a johnson
committee and burial place for whatever he
wants put out of the way. This was the
Democratic method of etrangling the Knights
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-18

The general rains of the last few days and
the increasing humidity of the atmosphere in
dictate that the drought in Indiana is broken
and practically ended. Distressing as it has
been in some respects and localities, it is not
likely to prove nearly as disastrous as has
been predicted by some. A continuance of
this damp weather will soon work wonderful
change in the face of nature and in the crop
outlook. There is no cause for serious dis
couragement either among farmers or business
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-18
An Accomplished Young Socialist

New York Commercial Advertiser.
Walter Vrooman, the boy orator, who came
here from the West, recently, is fast gaining a
high place in the socialist ranks. He is an ex-
ceedingly fresh young man. He has already
gained the name of 'chinny" account of the
inordlnate of his tongue The bow talks in a
truly anarchist style. His young blood impels
him to demand immediate and radical reform.
He is ready at moments notice-so he declares
to head revolution and wipe all capitalists
from the face of the earth Those who know
that IL they should come to violent action in
this city, he would be found running for the
Grand Central depot before business began in
earnest. For one of such tender age, Voor-
man has developed q wonderful capacity fol-
beer. His admirers speak enthusiastically of
the fact that no ''eot away with thirty-fve
schooners in one evening"
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-18
THE LABOR PARTIES.
Causes of the Breaking Down of the X. of L
Rev. Pentecost's Idiotic BabbIe.

Causes of the Breaking Down of the X. of L.
Rev. Pentecosts Idiotic Babble.
New York Times.
Whom the gods would destroy they first
make mad--if it is worth while. Minor objects
of the celestial dispeasure, however, are
quite as effectively destroyed by making
them ridiculous and this seems to be the
fate in store for the numerous reformers of
labor and aboshers of poverty who have
of late held so considerable share of the public
attention. Certainly no cause forwarded by the
co operation of so large a body Of men were
eighteen months ago engaged in a really united
effort to make the workman the dictator of his
employer has ever so rapidly declined. The or
eanizatlon which was able to suspend the rail-
road service and the business of a large section
of the country for weeks. which laid its embargo
upon the commerce of this city. and repeatedly
now struggling for it's very existence. Its NOM
bership has dwindled by half. It has rival in
its own field, active and growing 1t is rent by
discussions. Employers have recovered from
their earlier apprehensons, and are firmly COM
bining against its tyranny The disturbance in
the industrial community which threatened to
swell into a revolution has shrunk to the proper
tons of street brawl
The breaking down of the knights of Labor is
but the natural consequence of their vices of or
ganization. The fatal absurdity OF investing the
coal-heaver with the power to regulate the wages
and the hours of labor of the silk-weaver and the
silver worker, and the ludicrous mistake of using
the whole power of noble order to bring poor
bakeshop woman TO terms. and for other SINH
larly exalted purposes, worked the ruin of the
organization by making it contemplate to
large part of its own membership. In similar
fashion the various labor parties by which the
politics of the country and in particular the
politics of this State are at present diversified
seem to be vying with each other in the effort to
burlesuue the forms of political action.
The condition of the Labor parties 49, indeed,
far from hopeful. But their leaders and mana
gers and preachers continue with abated ZEAL
neither taught by the mistakes of the past nor
deferred by the warning signs of the present, TO
drag a cause they might make noble out of the
domain of reason down into tho boys
of crankdom. The so-caed Anti-poverty
Society which is only another manifestation
of the McGlynn George party is working stead
lily and with unrnstakable success to make the
voice of organized labor indsringushable from
the voice of congeniral idiocy. This work was
enthusiastically carried ut the Anti
poverty Society's picnic Oriental
Grove. on Saturday, by DR.. McGlynn and
the Rev. Hugh O. Pentecost We cannot for
bear to quote from the report of the remarks
made by this latter opponent of poverty. who
pictured forth the fruits of the crusade in
which he is engaged by relating a dream which
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-18

THE coroner's jury is likely to disagree as
to the responsibility for the Chatsworth dis
sster three voting to place it upon the man
lgement of the road and the others on the
section foreman. The coroner himself is
among the latter. This is not surprising
when it is known that the coroner is under
many obligations to the company for passes
and is handing glove with the management